Ira lay sprawled across her bed, her fingers mindlessly scrolling through her phone's feed. The faint glow of the screen illuminated her bored expression, her dark eyelashes fluttering lazily.
Her mother, Vaidehi, stromed into the room, a worn spatula clutched in her hand, her bangles trembling with anger. Her synthetic saree rustled as she moved, the scent of cooking spices wafting off her clothes.
"Get inside your phone already! Day and night, eating and sleeping, every hour just phone, phone, phone!" Vaidehi's voice thundered, her eyebrows danced in frustration.
Ira dropped her phone instinctively, the screen flickering to the darkness. It slipped from her fingers, landing with a soft thud on the rumpled bedspread. Her eyes widened, a mix of guilt and fear sparkling within.
Vaidehi's gaze burnt with disappointment. "For the past four-five months, I have not seen this girl turning a single page! You are wasting your time! No focus, no ambition! What will you do after graduation?" Her words cut deep, Ira's shoulder slumping under the weight.
She felt a surge of resentment. Why couldn't people understand? She was tired of the constant pressure. Her thoughts swirled, a jumble of emotions: frustration, anxiety, and helplessness.
"You need to think beyond just passing college!" Vaidehi's anger boiled over. "Government jobs, further studies, something! You can't just drift through the life!"
Ira's eyes flashed, her jaw clenched. She felt trapped, suffocated by expectations. Tears pricked at the corner of her eyes, but she blinked them back.
Vaidehi's voice was laced with a commanding tone, her eyes flashing with determination. "I am still saying, get back to the medical path. People crack that exam even after they are 25. You are still 21. You have so much time." Her words hung in the air like an ultimatum.
Ira's face flushed, her blood boiling at her mother's persistence. Her eyes flashed with annoyance and anger, the sparkling them hinting at a brewing strom.
"If you're that much interested, why don't you apply for it?" Ira's retort was sharp, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "It's not like there is an age limit." Her lips curled, her eyebrows arching in defiance.
Vaidehi's face reddened with anger, her jaw set in a firm line. "Do not talk back, Ira! I am your mother! Learn to be respectful toward elders. And don't be ridiculous. It's about your future."
Ira's hands clenched into fists, her nails digging into her palms. "I'll do what I want, not what you want." She declared, her voice firm and resolute.
"I've trusted you people once, and I won't be repeating the mistake again." Her words dripped with conviction, her eyes blazing with determination.
With a swift motion, she sprung up from the bed, her long hair swirling around her. She stromed out of the room with the phone in her hand, leaving Vaidehi stunned and worried.
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Ira sat alone on the rooftop, surrounded by the darkness of night. The moon's ethereal glow was a beacon of hope, shining brightly in the darkness, yet unable to penetrate the shadows that shrouded her heart. Tears silently streamed down her face, her sniffling and wiped a futile attempt to stem the emotional tide.
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The Rollercoaster Ride
General Fiction"Life is like a rollercoaster, it has its own ups and downs, but it's your choice to scream or enjoy the ride... When life's rollercoaster throws you off track, do you scream or hold on tight? For Ira and Rudraksh, the journey is far from smooth. O...
